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Itinerary for Oct 21 — Oct 24, 2013

Description: Found in the heart of the park is Giant City Lodge. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it is in perfect keeping with the spirit of the park. Multi-hued sandstone and white oak timber were two of the native building materials used.
The spacious and historic Lodge has a rustic beauty that creates an atmosphere found nowhere else in Southern Illinois. The Bald Knob dining room, with seating for 200, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, with an excellent reputation for food and hospitality. You’re sure to enjoy some of the best fried chicken ever if you choose the specialty of the Lodge, our all-you-can-eat Family Style Chicken Dinner.

Description: Found in the heart of the park is Giant City Lodge. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it is in perfect keeping with the spirit of the park. Multi-hued sandstone and white oak timber were two of the native building materials used.
The spacious and historic Lodge has a rustic beauty that creates an atmosphere found nowhere else in Southern Illinois. The Bald Knob dining room, with seating for 200, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, with an excellent reputation for food and hospitality. You’re sure to enjoy some of the best fried chicken ever if you choose the specialty of the Lodge, our all-you-can-eat Family Style Chicken Dinner.

Morning: Cache River Wetlands: Voices of the Cache canoe trail....Join local singer/songwriter/naturalist Curt Carter as he gives a voice to the swamp through his trail interpretation and song entitled 'Voices of the Cache." Paddle past duckweed, button brush and 800 year old Cypress trees; one with over 200 knees. Prior to canoeing, staff will provide canoe instruction and safety, including paddle techniques, getting in and out of canoes safely and how to prevent a canoe from flipping over.
Approx. distance is 2 miles on flat water (no rapids).
A visit to the Interpretive Center will give background on the natural and cultural history of the wetlands.
Eagles, herons, egrets, pileated woodpecker, wood ducks and owls are common ushers along the trail, along with the often sought after Prothonotary Warbler (spring/summer only). A visit with the 1500 year- old state record Bald Cypress tree is always a highlight of this wetland paddle.

Lunch: Picnic style lunch in the field

Afternoon: Cache River swamp and visitor center continued.

Dinner: Dinner in Lodge Restaurant

Evening: Evening Owl Prowl. Presentation on owl behavior and adaptations prior to short hike to call in local owl species.

Description: Found in the heart of the park is Giant City Lodge. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, it is in perfect keeping with the spirit of the park. Multi-hued sandstone and white oak timber were two of the native building materials used.
The spacious and historic Lodge has a rustic beauty that creates an atmosphere found nowhere else in Southern Illinois. The Bald Knob dining room, with seating for 200, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, with an excellent reputation for food and hospitality. You’re sure to enjoy some of the best fried chicken ever if you choose the specialty of the Lodge, our all-you-can-eat Family Style Chicken Dinner.

Day Three: Wednesday, October 23 - Canoeing and Kayaking on scenic lake and Evening ...

Breakfast: Breakfast in Lodge Restaurant.

Morning: Watch for Eagles, herons and kingfishers as we paddle along sandstone bluffs and beneath towering pines on one of southern Illinois' scenic lakes. Approx. distance 2-5 miles on flat water with short interpretive breaks along the way.
Kayaks are also available to paddle on this day---learn kayak paddling techniques and have the option to switch from canoeing to kayaking throughout the day.

Lunch: Lunch along the shore of the lake.

Afternoon: Optional: Leave the water and head to local winery for wine tasting. Opportunity to purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Or, stay on the water for more paddling.

Dinner: Dinner in Lodge Restaurant

Evening: Evening music with a focus on bluegrass and folk music inspired by the natural world and intertwined with stories of life and adventure.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!